Moringa: The Superfood You Need to Know About

You may be eating your kale salad, drinking your goji berry smoothies and chowing down on quinoa. But have you heard about moringa yet?

Moringa is a plant that grows in certain regions of Africa and the Himalayas. It is super nutritious and boasts even more good stuff than kale like vitamins A, B, and C, a high calcium content, iron, and even twice the amount of protein as kale and contains nine essential amino acids. The veggie has been used in many cuisines and as a healing treatment, but it’s only recently starting to make its way out West.

28-year-old Lisa Curtis is trying to make moringa happen stateside, and has raised a reported $4.24 million to get it on store shelves. Through the Kuli Kuli label, you can find moringa in a variety of products including beverages and bars.

Moringa’s health benefits are many. The powerful plant is said to help with weight loss to prevent cravings. Improved sleep, better blood pressure, stabilized blood sugar levels and anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties are all some of the perks of morninga.

Like kale, the flavor of moringa sounds to be a bit polarizing. Some describe it as similar to asparagus, while others say it has a peppery quality, like arugla. Depending on how you like to enjoy your greens, you may either love it or hate, but it’s worth a try to get all the nutritious benefits.

If you’re looking for a way to try moringa leaves, then you can definitely grab them off the shelves of your local Whole Foods, thanks to the Kuli Kuli company. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you can boil them and enjoy them plain or spice it up. Indian lentil stew, known as sambar, includes them as an ingredient along with other savory flavors like turmeric, tamarind and chili powder. You can also find recipes that add moringa to cakes and omelets, depending on how experimental you’re feeling.